Shady Side Academy: Parents

The Hillman Performing Arts Series presents Reinventing Radio: An Evening With Ira Glass on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. The creator of the acclaimed public radio show This American Life, Ira Glass will explain the keys to his tremendous success, including the process of tracking down the great untold stories. Glass includes radio excerpts and music to create a "live" show on stage. Lecture runs from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Join us before the show from 6-7 p.m. for an exclusive VIP reception with Ira Glass featuring cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live jazz. Limited balcony-level ($40) and VIP ($125) tickets are available. Buy tickets online.

Alumni Speaker Carmen Gentile '92 April 17

International reporter Carmen Gentile '92 will talk with students, parents and alumni about his experiences embedded with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other topics, on Wednesday, April 17, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Benedum Student Center, Rowe Hall, on the Senior School campus. There will be a Q&A session following his presentation. Learn more about Gentile at www.carmengentile.com.

Screening of Bully Movie April 18

Bully Movie Parents and children ages 13 and over (accompanied by a parent) are invited to a screening of the movie Bully at the Waterworks Cinema on Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. Bully follows five kids and families over the course of a school year, giving a glimpse into bullying at schools and offering insights as teachers, administrators and parents struggle to find answers. Following the film, a 30-minute discussion will be led by bully-prevention expert Judy Leadbitter, guidance counselor in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. Attendees will also receive valuable information about bullying prevention. The cost is $4 per ticket. Seating is limited, please RSVP at bullymovie@ecspco.org. Learn more about the film at www.thebullyproject.com.

Save the Date: Three-School Mixer April 19

Mark your calendar for the Parents' Association Three-School Mixer, held Friday, April 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Junior School. More details will be available soon.

Spring Downtown Lunch April 24, Features LoyalTree Founders

The Spring Downtown Lunch will be held Wednesday, April 24, from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Allegheny HYP Club. Guest speakers will be LoyalTree founder Brock Bergman '03 and his leadership team, Jake Klinvex '05 and Jim Ambrose '05. The cost is $15 per person, payable at the door. Please RSVP to Lisa Page at lpage@shadysideacademy.org by April 17.

PAISTA Sponsors Evening with NAIS President Pat Bassett April 29

The Pittsburgh Area Independent School Teachers' Association (PAISTA) is sponsoring an evening with Patrick F. Bassett, president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) on Monday, April 29; this event was rescheduled from October. The event, titled "Partnering With Parents: How Great Schools Work," will be held at The Ellis School at 7:30 p.m., and all parents are welcome. Visit www.paista.org to register by April 22. Please direct any questions to Lauren Messner at lmessner@shadysideacademy.org, Terri Vosko Haas at thaas@shadysideacademy.org or Lisa Anselmo at lanselmo@shadysdeacademy.org. View the event flyer.

Art Beat Art Show Opens May 3

This spring, Shady Side Academy is hosting a professional art exhibition on the Senior School campus to bring top emerging and established Pittsburgh-based visual artists together in a multiple-site venue. Work includes a wide range of styles and mediums, both 2D and 3D. The opening will be held Friday May, 3, from 7-9 p.m. at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts, and the show will run until May 24. Additional events include a brunch and talk with an art collector, and a Parents' Association Lunch & Learn with a curator from the Warhol Museum.

Parents' Association Opportunities

The Parents' Association offers several ways to support the PA while you shop.

Register your Giant Eagle Advantage Card at boxtops.gianteagle.com, purchase eligible Boxtops for Education items and the earnings will go to the PA. Or, cut out and deliver Boxtops to Megan Vrcic at the Junior School.
Purchase Giant Eagle gift cards through the PA that can be used for groceries, gas or other gift cards; the PA gets 5%.
Participate in the Lands’ End School Rewards Program; use our school code (900033986) when you check out; the PA gets 3% of net sales.
Register your Target Visa or Red Card; the PA gets 1% of the total sale every time you shop at Target.

Junior School News

Grandparents' and Special Friends Day April 12
Grandparents and special friends are invited to spend the morning of Friday, April 12, from 8:45-11 a.m. at the Junior School. Students relish the opportunity to have the spotlight, being the “experts,” and having their guests walk in their shoes, even if this adventure only lasts for a brief time! This year, we will enjoy performances from all of our Junior School students in the gymnasium, followed by classroom visits. The performances will begin at 9 a.m. Submit the letter and RSVP form by April 8 to Diane Oshnock at doshnock@shadysideacademy.org.

Spring Concert April 18
Parents are invited to the Middle/Junior School Spring Concert on Thursday, April 18, at the Junior School. Please note the time has been changed to 9:30 a.m.

SSA Farm at the Junior School
The SSA Farm is expanding to the Junior School! Below are various ways to contribute to this community effort. We welcome any interested individuals and will happily provide training and assistance for new gardening enthusiasts!

Build Day, Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m.-noon Come with your student to help with construction of new beds, prepare existing beds for summer and build benches with planters. No experience necessary. Please RSVP to Tina Nussbaum Wagler by Friday, April 26
Volunteer with your student to weed, water and harvest produce for one week during summer break (training will be provided).
Share your skills, hobbies and supplies to aid this project (“handy-people,” master gardeners, trucks for hauling materials, garden supplies that are no longer used, etc.).

Contact Tina Nussbaum Wagler at tinanussbaumwagler@shadysideacademy.org with questions or to get involved.

CLO Performance of We The People: The Musical
The Pittsburgh CLO performed We The People: The Musical through their Gallery of Heroes Program for the Junior and Middle School students. Through a series of sketches and songs, the show explores the Constitution and Civil Rights, and shows not only how the Constitution applies to our past, but also to our present and future.The performance was generously underwritten by SSA grandparents Helen Hanna Casey and Stephen Casey, and made possible by the Engel family. View the CLO We The People slideshow.

Fourth Grade Marketplace
The fourth grade has been very excited to implement a new financial literacy program, which began in October. This program helps students learn financial responsibility and teaches them real-life money lessons. Students are "paid" a salary every week with which they can pay expenses such as taxes, equipment rental, health insurance and visits to the school nurse. The next phase of the literacy program was for students to experience becoming entrepreneurs by making a product for sale at the Fourth Grade Marketplace. The first Marketplace occurred on March 13. For this project, students designed an original product to sell to fourth grade students and faculty. They also had to advertise their product prior to the sale, and determine a selling price. View the marketplace slideshow.

MLK Day Supplies Delivered to Children in Honduras
MLK Bags Delivered to Honduras Students, parents, faculty and staff who volunteered at the Junior School on MLK Day of Service put together bags filled with toiletries, pot holders, soup kits, bracelets and other items for children living in Honduras. Students also wrote letters in Spanish and each child had his or her photo included. The bags were delivered by Operation Walk in March to the delight of many families. Their favorite items were the letters and photos. Thanks to everyone who participated! View the Honduras slideshow.

Purchase Yearbook Ads Online
Personal ads for the 2012-2013 can be purchased online at www.yearbookforever.com; you can purchase now and design later! There are a number of design options and parents can personalize ads by uploading photos. Ads cost $250 for a full page, $175 for a half page, $100 for a quarter page and $50 for an eighth page. Space is limited! Assistance will be available at the Junior School on April 10 at 8:30 a.m. Contact Pam Grandizio at pamelagrandizio@yahoo.com or Gabby Germinaro at gabs4@me.com with questions.

Sign Up for Faculty Fridays
Sign up to host one of the Faculty Fridays using the online sign-up sheet. If you have any questions, please email Erica Strauss at estrauss511@me.com.

Middle School News

Grandparents Day April 11
Grandparents and special friends are invited to spend the day at the Middle School on Thursday, April 11, from 8:30 a.m.-2:10 p.m. Please view the Grandparents Day flyer and RSVP to Mrs. Cephas at 412-968-3100 by Friday, April 5.

Spring Concert April 18
Parents are invited to the Middle/Junior School Spring Concert on Thursday, April 18, at the Junior School. Please note the time has been changed to 9:30 a.m.

Students Performing With the PSO
Grace Anania, CJ Coyne, Koji Shimada and Carlin Szilagyi, all members of the Children's Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh, have been selected to perform in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Fiddlesticks Concert on Saturday, April 6 at Heinz Hall. These students will also be performing in the PSO's The Dybbuk opera as part of the Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival April 25-28.

Upcoming WQED STEM Events
The following educational programs from WQED are open to students in grades 5-8. All are free.

April 6 - WQED Invention Convention at Inventionland
A perfect event for inventive, curious families who love to make things together! Learn more at www.wqed.org/education/inventionconvention.php.
April 20 - WQED SciGirls Watch Party - Geared4Girls at The Ellis School
Girls in grades 5-8 are invited to form teams to re-engineer (with paper and crafts) a bicycle to a theme of their choosing. The teams will display their bikes (runway style) as part of our upcoming Geared4Girls event.

The SSA Farm Comes to the Middle School
The Middle School is seeking students and their families to become invested partners in a new raised bed flower and vegetable garden, an extension of the SSA Farm project. With a focus on sustainable systems and native plants, the garden will serve as classroom, laboratory and salad bar. It will be a great opportunity for children and families to learn gardening from the soil up. Students will engage in the seeding, planting and harvesting of vegetables, herbs and flowers during afternoon athletics. Through community days and open houses, families will be able to work alongside students to create a true community of gardeners and learners. Contact Tim McGuigan at tmcguigan@shadysideacademy.org if your child or family is interested.

Purchase Yearbook Ads
Graduation will be here before you know it! One special acknowledgement that you can make to your student is an ad in the yearbook. It's a great way to celebrate their success and ascension through the Middle School. Place your ad online. Please contact Kristin Richards at k2richards@comcast.net or Tricia McCormick at gofrogdog@mac.com with questions.

Parents' Association Volunteer Opportunities
Faculty Fridays are a special way for families to thank faculty and staff for their dedication to our children. We still have a few dates open for families to sign up for Faculty Fridays online: April 26, May 10 and May 31.

You can still sign up for a Bagel Day online. The cost is $50 to sponsor bagels for a grade or $150 for the entire school. Bagel Days are held on Day 6 of the academic cycle. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Walsh at shwalsh316@aol.com or June Navid at jnavid@comcast.net.

Senior School News

SSA Career Connections - An Evening for Juniors and Seniors May 2
SSA will hold its first Career Connections Day on Thursday, May 2, from 6:45-8:30 p.m. in Rowe Hall. Students are invited to connect with select SSA alumni, parents and other community members to explore different career options as they begin to consider where to attend college. Speakers from a variety of fields will describe the events that led them to their life’s work, what they did to prepare for that career and answer any questions about pursuing a similar path. Students received forms to note speaker preferences, which are due to the College Counseling Office by April 12.

Claim Lost & Found Items By Tomorrow, April 5
Lost and found items must be claimed from outside Memorial Hall by tomorrow. April 5. Any remaining items will be donated to charity.

Food Bank Volunteer Opportunity April 13
Students are invited to join the Service Learning Group on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne to repack food. Permission forms are available on the Service Learning bulletin board or from Mrs. Ament. The signed forms are due to Mrs. Ament by Thursday, April 11.

Student Art Exhibit Open Through Mid-April
The Senior School Student Art Exhibition will be on display through mid-April in the Benedum Visual Arts Center. Creative and skillful student work from several classes are beautifully displayed. View the student art show slideshow.

John Baglier Scholarship Nominations Due May 3
Students are invited to nominate a senior for the John Baglier Scholarship, which awards $1,000 towards college tuition. The award was established by friends of John Baglier '97 and is given annually to honor a member of the graduating class who has been inspirational by example to his or her peers by excelling in at least one aspect of school life and by the genuine and unwavering support he or she has given fellow students as they strive to achieve their utmost. The award commemorates John's life, his constant visible encouragement of his peers, and his efforts to make the Senior School a better community. Nominations are due to Mr. Gable by May 3. View the nomination form and scholarship information.

SSA Farm at the Senior School
Spring is officially here (at least according to the calendar), and the second season for the SSA Farm at the Senior School has begun. Spring PE Farm has been tilling soil, starting seedlings indoors, building additional beds and planting peas. If you are interested in helping at the SSA Farm, there are a few ways to do so:

Volunteer and/or encourage students to volunteer during the summer (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m.).
Join the SSA Farm Committee.
Support the Farmers Market stand by purchasing produce (Wednesdays in June-October, from 3-6 p.m.).
Donate any items you no longer need that may be put to good use at one of the SSA Farm locations:

Gardening tools and supplies: hoes, rakes, shovels, hoses, potting soil, watering cans, etc.
Building tools and supplies: hammers, screwdrivers, drills, wood, wire, fencing, etc.

Contact Tina Nussbaum Wagler at tinanussbaumwagler@shadysideacademy.org with any questions.

Freshman Class Collecting Paper Products
The freshman class is holding a paper products drive to benefit North Hills Community Outreach. Students should check with their advisors to see which product their advisee group was assigned. Contact Priyanka Shah, Mark Antosz or Ms. Greene with questions.

No Soap Left Behind Drive

Bring in soap, shampoo, conditioner or any personal care items for the No Soap Left Behind Drive. Items will be collected through Friday, April 12.

Register for Summer College Essay Writing Workshop
Students entering grades 11 and 12 can spend a week this summer perfecting their college application essays in the College Essay Writing Workshop. Taught by English teacher Linda Joseph, students should expect to produce original, student-generated work of the highest quality – specifically, at minimum, an activities resumé and both short and long common application essay. Learn more and register online.

Chemistry Contest April 6
The Pittsburgh section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will hold its 69th Annual Secondary School Chemistry Contest on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m.-noon. Scholarships will be awarded by the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. Cash prizes will be awarded by the ACS at the annual banquet in May. The April 6 examination is the preliminary qualifier for the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad competition. Please contact Stephanie Montemurro at smontemurro@shadysideacademy.org for more information.

Prom Fashion Show May 5
Save the date for the Parents' Association Junior Class Prom Fashion Show on Sunday, May 5, from 2-4 p.m. at the Fox Chapel Golf Club. View the invitation for details and RSVP information.

From the Deans' Office

Parents of Form V, IV, and III students: please ask your child how s/he plans to lead at Shady Side next year. Students received information about leadership positions at the Leadership Fair before break. Advisors and form deans have this information as well and are ready to talk with your child about how they can affect positive change at school next year.
Upcoming formal dress days:

Wednesday, April 17 - Cum Laude Assembly
Thursday, May 16 - Spring Athletic Assembly
Tuesday, June 4 - Prize Day
Friday, June 7 - Commencement

International Program Heading to China and Spain in 2013-2014

Information and applications for next year's exchanges with China and Spain are now available on the International Program web page. Contact Mrs. Parker at jparker@shadysideacademy.org with questions.

2013 Commencement Information
Graduation packets are available for parents of seniors and have been mailed home. Please read the letter from the Parents' Association, which includes important dates, and Commencement details, including dress code, timetable and reminders.

From the College Counseling Office

The college counselors had their third and final meeting with sophomores on March 12. Topics discussed included standardized testing, leadership opportunities and college visiting. Check out the “College Counseling for Sophomores” page behind the portals for more details!
If your child is planning on taking SAT subject tests in the spring, encourage him or her to check with teachers for preparation tips.
Find lots of helpful college information, including standardized testing dates and registration information, scholarship opportunities, etc. on the College Counseling class pages on the Parent Portal (login required). Click on “College Counseling for [Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors]” under My Child's Class Pages (MS/SS).
The SSA College Counseling Facebook page has announcements and information related to the College Counseling process. We encourage all students and parents to “Like” us on Facebook.

Student Writers Needed for Fall Play Adaption
We are looking for a team of writers to help adapt the 2013 fall play, Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. We need at least 4-5 writers who are willing to meet a few times near the end of this school year and once or twice over the summer (can be done via email/Skype) to help modernize this amazing play. Interested students should see or email Mrs. Hardy-Bingham at dhardy-bingham@shadysideacademy.org as soon as possible. Students DO NOT need to be available next fall to be in the play (but can be) in order to be on the writing team.

Junior Wins Silver Key at National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Junior Sydney Ayers received a Silver Key from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her digital image titled "Somnambulatory Abstraction." Sydney's artwork received three Gold Keys at the regional event, which qualified her for the national competition. Of the 230,000 submissions, only one percent received national recognition. Sydney and her teacher, Scott Aiken, have been invited to attend the award ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 31. Congratulations, Sydney!

Students Volunteer at Produce to People
Students from the Service Learning Group volunteered at Produce to People on Saturday, March 23, over spring break, sorting and repacking food for distribution. View the Produce to People slideshow.

Upcoming Events

All Academy
April 13 - Hillman Performing Arts Series Presents: Reinventing Radio: An Evening With Ira Glass, 7:30 p.m.
April 17 - Alumni Speaker Carmen Gentle '92, Benedum Student Center, Rowe Hall, Senior School Campus, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 19 - Parents' Association Three-School Mixer, Junior School, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
April 20 - Western PA Garden & Landscape Symposium, Hillman Center, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Junior School
April 10 - Yearbook Ad Assistance, 8:30 a.m.
April 12 - Grandparents' and Special Friends Day, 8:45-11 a.m.
April 12 - Lynne Voelp Reed Day, noon-2:45 p.m.
April 18 - Junior and Middle School Concert, 9:30 a.m.

Middle School
April 9 - Parent Coffee With the School Head, 8:15 a.m.
April 11 - Grandparents' Day, 8:30 a.m.-2:10 p.m. - DRESS-UP DAY
April 16 - Form II Field Trip to Warhol Museum, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
April 17 - Form II Field Trip to Warhol Museum, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
April 18 - Junior and Middle School Concert, Junior School, 9:30 a.m.
April 18 - Form II Parents' Meeting, Cafetorium, 7:30 p.m.
April 19 - Sixth Grade Creek Symposium, 8 a.m.-2:10 p.m., Camp Kon-O-Kwee

Senior School
April 12 - SSA Career Connections Form Due to College Counselors
April 17 - Cum Laude Assembly - FORMAL DRESS
April 19-21 - Music Department Trip to New York City

For up-to-date calendar information, please visit the calendar page.

If you have any questions about this newsletter, please send them to Manager of Web Communications Dana Sheehan at dsheehan@shadysideacademy.org